Shrift
Shrift, shrift, n. a confession made to a priest: absolution—esp. of a dying man. [A.S. scrift—scrífan, to shrive.]
English · e-38700-1693 · brief source recordHistorical source · 1908
Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 138
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
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Page 138 of 179Shrike
Shrike, shrīk, n. a genus of passerine birds which prey on insects and small birds, impaling its prey on thorns—hence called the Butcher-bird. [Ice. skríkja; cf. Shriek.]
English · e-38700-1694Shrill
Shrill, shril, adj. piercing: sharp: uttering an acute sound.—adjs. Shrill′-gorged (Shak.), shrill-throated; Shrill′ing (Spens.), sounding shrill.—n. Shrill′ness.—adjs. Shrill′-tongued, Shrill′-voiced (Shak.), having a s
English · e-38700-1695Shrimp
Shrimp, shrimp, n. a genus of edible crustaceans, of the order Decapoda, allied to lobsters, crayfish, and prawns: a little wizened or dwarfish person.—v.i. to catch shrimps.—ns. Shrimp′er, one who catches shrimps; Shrim
English · e-38700-1696Shrine
Shrine, shrīn, n. a case or reliquary for relics: a sacred place: an altar: anything hallowed by its associations.—v.t. to enshrine.—adj. Shrī′nal. [A.S. scrín—L. scrinium—scribĕre, to write.]
English · e-38700-1697Shrink
Shrink, shringk, v.i. to contract: to wither: to occupy less space: to become wrinkled by contraction: to recoil, as from fear, disgust, &c.—v.t. to cause to shrink or contract: to withdraw:—pa.t. shrank, shrunk; pa.p. s
English · e-38700-1698Shrive
Shrive, shrīv, v.t. to hear a confession from and give absolution to.—v.i. to receive confession: to make such:—pa.t. shrōve or shrīved; pa.p. shriv′en.—ns. Shrī′ver, one who shrives: a confessor; Shrī′ving (Spens.), shi
English · e-38700-1699Shrivel
Shrivel, shriv′l, v.i. and v.t. to contract into wrinkles: to blight:—pr.p. shriv′elling; pa.t. and pa.p. shriv′elled. [Perh. conn. with Old Northumbrian screpa, to become dry; cf. Norw. skrypa, to waste.]
English · e-38700-1700Shroff
Shroff, shrof, n. a banker or money-changer in India.—v.t. to inspect the quality of coins.—n. Shroff′age, such examination. [Hind. sarrāf—Ar. sarrāf.]
English · e-38700-1701Shroud
Shroud, shrowd, n. the dress of the dead, a winding-sheet: that which clothes or covers: any underground hole, a vault, burrow, &c.: (pl.) a set of ropes from the mast-heads to a ship's sides, to support the masts.—v.t.
English · e-38700-1702Shroud
Shroud, shrowd, v.t. (prov.) to lop the branches from, as a tree.—n. a cutting, a bough or branch, the foliage of a tree. [A variant of shred.]
English · e-38700-1703Shrove-tide
Shrove-tide, shrōv′-tīd, n. the name given to the days immediately preceding Ash-Wednesday, preparatory to Lent—given up to football, cock-fighting, bull-baiting, &c.—ns. Shrove′-cake, a pancake for Shrove-tide; Shrove′-
English · e-38700-1704Shrow
Shrow, shrō, n. (Shak.). Same as Shrew.
English · e-38700-1705 · brief source recordShrub
Shrub, shrub, n. a woody plant with several stems from the same root: a bush or dwarf tree.—v.t. (prov.) to win all a man's money at play.—adj. Shrub′beried, abounding in shrubbery.—ns. Shrub′bery, a plantation of shrubs
English · e-38700-1706Shrub
Shrub, shrub, n. a drink prepared from the juice of lemons, currants, raspberries, with spirits, as rum. [A variant of shrab.]
English · e-38700-1707Shruff
Shruff, shruf, n. (prov.) refuse wood. [Shrub.]
English · e-38700-1708 · brief source recordShrug
Shrug, shrug, v.t. to draw up: to contract.—v.i. to draw up the shoulders, expressive of doubt, surprise, indifference, &c.:—pr.p. shrug′ging; pa.t. and pa.p. shrugged.—n. an expressive drawing up of the shoulders. [Scan
English · e-38700-1709Shrunk
Shrunk, pa.t. and pa.p. of shrink.
English · e-38700-1710 · brief source recordShuck
Shuck, shuk, n. a husk, shell, or pod.—v.t. to remove such, to strip off.—ns. Shuck′er, one who shucks; Shuck′ing, the act of taking off the shuck: a shucking-bee.—interj. Shucks (slang), expressive of contempt or disapp
English · e-38700-1711Shudder
Shudder, shud′ėr, v.i. to tremble from fear or horror.—n. a trembling from fear or horror.—adj. Shudd′ering, trembling, tremulous.—adv. Shudd′eringly. [Cf. Old Dut. schudden; Ger. schaudern, to shudder.]
English · e-38700-1712Shuffle
Shuffle, shuf′l, v.t. to change the positions of: to confuse: to remove or introduce by purposed confusion.—v.i. to change the order of cards in a pack: to shift ground: to evade fair questions: to move by shoving the fe
English · e-38700-1713Shug
Shug, shug, v.i. (prov.) to crawl, to shrug.
English · e-38700-1714 · brief source recordShun
Shun, shun, v.t. to avoid: to keep clear of: to neglect:—pr.p. shun′ning; pa.t. and pa.p. shunned.—adj. Shun′less (Shak.), not able to be shunned: unavoidable.—ns. Shun′ner; Shun′pike, a byroad. [A.S. scunian; Ice. skund
English · e-38700-1715Shunt
Shunt, shunt, v.t. to turn aside, to turn off upon a side-rail: to shove off, free one's self from.—v.i. to turn aside: to use a switch or shunt in railways and electrics.—n. a short side-rail for allowing the main-line
English · e-38700-1716Shut
Shut, shut, v.t. to close, as a door: to forbid entrance into: to contract, close, or bring together the parts of: to confine: to catch in the act of shutting something.—v.i. to close itself: to be closed.—pr.p. shut′tin
English · e-38700-1717Shuttle
Shuttle, shut′l, n. an instrument used for shooting the thread of the woof between the threads of the warp in weaving.—v.t. and v.i. to move to and fro, like a shuttle.—n. Shutt′lecock, a rounded cork stuck with feathers
English · e-38700-1718Shwanpan
Shwanpan, shwän′pan, n. the Chinese abacus or reckoning board.—Also Swan′pan.
English · e-38700-1719 · brief source recordShy
Shy, shī, adj. timid: reserved: cautious: suspicious: elusive, hard to find.—v.i. to start aside, as a horse from fear.—v.t. to avoid:—pa.t. and pa.p. shīed.—n. a sudden swerving aside.—advs. Shy′ly, Shi′ly.—ns. Shy′ness
English · e-38700-1720Shy
Shy, shī, v.t. to fling, throw, toss.—v.i. to jerk.—n. a throw, a fling: a gibe, sneer: a trial.
English · e-38700-1721 · brief source recordSi
Si, sē, n. the syllable used for the seventh tone of the scale, or the leading tone.
English · e-38700-1722 · brief source recordSialogogue
Sialogogue, sī-al′o-gog, n. a drug which increases the secretion of saliva—also Sial′agogue.—adjs. Sialogog′ic (-goj′-); Sī′aloid.—n. Sialorrhē′a, excessive flow of saliva. [Gr. sialon, saliva, agōgos, leading—agein, to
English · e-38700-1723Siamang
Siamang, sē′a-mang, n. the largest of the gibbons, found in Sumatra and Malacca. [Malay.]
English · e-38700-1724 · brief source recordSiamese
Siamese, sī-am-ēz′, adj. pertaining or belonging to Siam, a country of Asia.—n. a native of Siam.—Siamese twins, two famous Siamese men (1811-74), joined from their birth by a cartilaginous band.
English · e-38700-1725Sib
Sib, Sibbe, sib, adj. (Spens.) related by blood, akin.—n. a blood relation: a close ally. [A.S. sibb, relationship; Gr. sippe.]
English · e-38700-1726Siberian
Siberian, sī-bē′ri-an, adj. pertaining to Siberia, a country of Asia.—n. a native of Siberia.—n. Sibē′rite, rubellite from Siberia.
English · e-38700-1727Sibilance
Sibilance, sib′i-lans, n. a hissing sound—also Sib′ilancy.—adj. Sib′ilant, making a hissing sound.—n. a sibilant letter, as s and z.—v.t. Sib′ilāte, to pronounce with a hissing sound.—n. Sibilā′tion, a hissing sound.—adj
English · e-38700-1728Sibyl
Sibyl, sib′il, n. in ancient mythology, one of certain women possessing powers of divination and prophecy: a prophetess, an old sorceress.—adjs. Sibyl′lic, Sib′ylline, pertaining to, uttered, or written by sibyls: prophe
English · e-38700-1729Sic
Sic, sik, adv. so, thus—printed within brackets in quoted matter to show that the original is being correctly reproduced, even though incorrect or wrong.—Sic passim, so throughout.
English · e-38700-1730Sic
Sic, sik, Siccan, sik′an, adj. Scotch forms of such.—adj. Sic′-like, for such-like, of the same kind.
English · e-38700-1731 · brief source recordSicambrian
Sicambrian, si-kam′bri-an, n. one of a powerful ancient German tribe.
English · e-38700-1732 · brief source recordSicanian
Sicanian, si-kā′ni-an, adj. pertaining to the Sicanians, an aboriginal pre-Aryan race in Sicily.
English · e-38700-1733 · brief source recordSicca
Sicca, sik′a, adj. newly coined. [Hind.]
English · e-38700-1734 · brief source recordSiccate
Siccate, sik′āt, v.t. to dry.—n. Siccā′tion.—adj. Sicc′ative, drying: causing to dry.—n. Siccity (sik′si-ti), dryness. [L. siccāre, -ātum—siccus, dry.]
English · e-38700-1735Sice
Sice, sīs, n. the number six at dice.
English · e-38700-1736 · brief source recordSice
Sice, Syce, sīs, n. a groom, a mounted attendant.—Also Saice. [Hind, sāis—Ar. sāis.]
English · e-38700-1737 · brief source recordSiceliot
Siceliot, si-sel′i-ot, adj. pertaining to the Siceliots, the colonies of immigrant Greeks in Sicily, who gradually became assimilated with the native Siculi—also Sikel′iot.—n. a Greek settler in Sicily: a Siculian.
English · e-38700-1738Sich
Sich, sich, adj. (Spens.) such.
English · e-38700-1739 · brief source recordSicilian
Sicilian, si-sil′yan, adj. of or pertaining to Sicily, an island south of Italy.—n. a native of Sicily.—ns. Siciliä′no, a Sicilian popular dance in slow movement, also the music for such; Sicilienne′, a ribbed silk fabri
English · e-38700-1740Sick
Sick, sik, adj. affected with disease: ill: inclined to vomit: disgusted: infirm: disordered: pining: depressed: indicating sickness: poor in quality: out of repair.—v.i. (Shak.) to grow sick.—ns. Sick′-bay, -berth, a co
English · e-38700-1741Sick
Sick, sik, v.t. to set upon, chase: to incite to attack. [A variant of seek.]
English · e-38700-1742 · brief source recordSicker
Sicker, sik′ėr, adj. (Scot.) sure, certain, firm.—adv. (Spens.) surely, certainly—also Sicc′ar.—n. Sick′erness (Spens.), the state of being sicker or certain. [A.S. siker—L. securus; Ger. sicher.]
English · e-38700-1743Sickle
Sickle, sik′l, n. a hooked instrument for cutting grain.—n. Sic′kle-bill, a name applied to various birds with sickle-shaped bill.—adj. Sic′kled, bearing a sickle.—ns. Sic′kle-feath′er, one of the sickle-shaped middle fe
English · e-38700-1744Sicsac
Sicsac, sik′sak, n. the Egyptian courser, crocodile-bird, or black-headed plover.—Also Ziczac.
English · e-38700-1745 · brief source recordSiculian
Siculian, si-kū′li-an, adj. pertaining to the Siculi, an ancient and most probably Aryan race of southern Italy who colonised Sicily.—adjs. Sic′ulo-Arā′bian; Sic′ulo-Pū′nic.
English · e-38700-1746Sicyos
Sicyos, sis′i-os, n. a genus of plants of the order Cucurbitaceæ, the gourd family.
English · e-38700-1747 · brief source recordSida
Sida, sī′da, n. a large genus of downy herbs of the mallow family. [Gr.]
English · e-38700-1748 · brief source recordSiddha
Siddha, sid′da, n. one who has attained to Sid′dhi, accomplishment or perfection.—n. Siddhar′ta, an epithet of Buddha. [Sans.]
English · e-38700-1749Siddow
Siddow, sid′ō, adj. (prov.) soft, pulpy.
English · e-38700-1750 · brief source recordSide
Side, sīd, n. the edge or border of anything: the surface of a solid: a part of a thing as seen by the eye: region, part: the part of an animal between the hip and shoulder: any party, interest, or opinion opposed to ano
English · e-38700-1751Side
Side, sīd, adj. (Scot.) wide, large: far. [A.S. síd, spacious.]
English · e-38700-1752 · brief source recordSidereal
Sidereal, sī-dē′rē-al, adj. relating to a star or stars: starry: (astron.) measured by the apparent motion of the stars.—adj. Sid′eral (Milt.), relating to the stars: baleful, from astrology.—n. Siderā′tion, a sudden dep
English · e-38700-1753Siderite
Siderite, sid′ėr-īt, n. the lodestone: native iron protocarbonate—also Chalybite, Spathic or Sparry iron, Junckerite. [L. sideritis, the lodestone—Gr. sidēritēs, of iron—sidēros, iron.]
English · e-38700-1754Siderography
Siderography, sid-ėr-og′ra-fi, n. steel-engraving.—adjs. Siderograph′ic, -al.—n. Siderog′raphist. [Gr. sidēros, iron, graphein, engrave.]
English · e-38700-1755Siderolite
Siderolite, sid′e-rō-līt, n. a meteorite composed chiefly of iron. [Gr. sidēros, iron, lithos, stone.]
English · e-38700-1756 · brief source recordSideromancy
Sideromancy, sid′ėr-ō-mans-i, n. divination by burning straws, &c., on a red-hot plate of iron. [Gr. sidēros, iron, manteia, divination.]
English · e-38700-1757Sideroscope
Sideroscope, sid′ėr-o-skōp, n. an instrument for detecting minute degrees of magnetism by means of a combination of magnetic needles. [Gr. sidēros, iron, skopein, to view.]
English · e-38700-1758Siderostat
Siderostat, sid′e-rō-stat, n. a heliostat adapted to sidereal time.—adj. Siderostat′ic. [L. sidus, sideris a star, Gr. statos, standing.]
English · e-38700-1759Siege
Siege, sēj, n. a sitting down with an army round or before a fortified place in order to take it by force: a continued endeavour to gain possession: (Shak.) a seat, throne, station: (Shak.) excrement: the floor of a glas
English · e-38700-1760Sield
Sield, sēld (Spens.). Cieled.
English · e-38700-1761 · brief source recordSienese
Sienese, si-e-nēz′, adj. pertaining to Siena, or Sienna, in central Italy, or its school of painting in the 13th and 14th centuries.
English · e-38700-1762Sienite
Sienite, Sienitic. Same as Syenite, &c.
English · e-38700-1763 · brief source recordSienna
Sienna, si-en′a, n. a fine orange-red pigment used in oil and water-colour painting. [It. terra di Siena, Sienna earth.]
English · e-38700-1764Sierra
Sierra, sē-er′ra, n. a ridge of mountains: a scombroid fish. [Sp., usually derived from L. serra, a saw. Some suggest Ar. sehrah, a desert place, whence also Sahara.]
English · e-38700-1765Siesta
Siesta, si-es′ta, n. a short sleep taken about midday or after dinner. [Sp.,—L. sexta (hora), the sixth (hour) after sunrise, the hour of noon.]
English · e-38700-1766Sieur
Sieur, sièr, n. a French title of respect, obsolete except in law-courts. [Fr.,—L. senior.]
English · e-38700-1767 · brief source recordSieve
Sieve, siv, n. a vessel with a bottom of woven hair or wire to separate the fine part of anything from the coarse: a person who cannot keep a secret.—v.t. to put through a sieve: to sift. [A.S. sife; Ger. seib.]
English · e-38700-1768Siffle
Siffle, sif′l, n. a sibilant râle.—v.i. to whistle, hiss.—ns. Siff′let, a theatrical whistle; Siff′leur, a whistler. [Fr. siffler—L. sibilāre.]
English · e-38700-1769Sift
Sift, sift, v.t. to separate with, or as with, a sieve: to examine closely.—n. Sift′er, one who, or that which, sifts. [A.S. siftan—sife, a sieve.]
English · e-38700-1770Sigh
Sigh, sī, v.i. to inhale and respire with a long, deep, and audible breathing, as in love or grief: to sound like sighing.—v.t. to express by sighs.—n. a long, deep, audible respiration.—n. Sigh′er.—adj. Sigh′ful.—adv. S
English · e-38700-1771Sight
Sight, sīt, n. act of seeing: view: faculty of seeing: that which is seen: a spectacle: an object of especial interest: space within vision: examination: a small opening for looking through at objects: a metal pin on the
English · e-38700-1772Sight
Sight, sīt (Spens.)=Sighed.
English · e-38700-1773 · brief source recordSigil
Sigil, sij′il, n. a seal: a signature: an occult or magical mark.—adjs. Sig′illary, pertaining to a seal; Sig′illate, decorated, as pottery, with impressed patterns: (bot.) marked with seal-like scars.—ns. Sigillā′tion;
English · e-38700-1774Sigillaria
Sigillaria, sij-il-ā′ri-a, n. a family of fossil lycopods, abundant in Carboniferous strata, with pillar-like trunks, the columnar stems ribbed and fluted longitudinally, the fluting marked by rows or whorls of scars lef
English · e-38700-1775Sigma
Sigma, sig′ma, n. the Greek letter corresponding to our s—written Σ (capital), σ (small initial) or ς (small final).—adjs. Sig′mate, Sigmat′ic.—ns. Sigmā′tion, the adding of s at the end of a word or syllable; Sig′matism
English · e-38700-1776Sign
Sign, sīn, n. mark, token: proof: that by which a thing is known or represented: a word, gesture, symbol, or mark, intended to signify something else: a remarkable event: an omen: a miraculous manifestation: a memorial:
English · e-38700-1777Signal
Signal, sig′nal, n. a sign for giving notice, generally at a distance: token: the notice given: any initial impulse.—v.t. and v.i. to make signals to: to convey by signals:—pr.p. sig′nalling; pa.t. and pa.p. sig′nalled.—
English · e-38700-1778Signature
Signature, sig′na-tūr, n. a sign or mark: the name of a person written by himself: (mus.) the flats and sharps after the clef to show the key: a sheet after being folded, the figure or letter at the foot of the page indi
English · e-38700-1779Signieur
Signieur, n. (Shak.). Same as Seignior.
English · e-38700-1780 · brief source recordSignify
Signify, sig′ni-fī, v.t. to make known by a sign or by words: to mean: to indicate or declare: to have consequence.—v.i. to be of consequence:—pa.t. and pa.p. sig′nifīed.—adj. Sig′nifiable, that may be signified or repre
English · e-38700-1781Signor
Signor, sē′nyor, n. an Italian word of address equivalent to Mr—also Signior.—ns. Signora (sē-nyō′ra), feminine of signor; Signorina (sē-nyō-rē′na), the Italian equivalent of Miss; Sig′nory, Sig′niory (same as Seigniory)
English · e-38700-1782Sike
Sike, sīk, n. (Scot.) a small stream of water.—Also Syke. [Ice. sík, síki, a ditch.]
English · e-38700-1783 · brief source recordSikh
Sikh, sēk, n. one of a religious sect of northern India, which became a great military confederacy—founded by Baba Nának (born 1469).—n. Sikh′ism. [Hind. Sikh, lit. follower or disciple.]
English · e-38700-1784Sil
Sil, sil, n. a yellowish pigment of ancient painters.
English · e-38700-1785 · brief source recordSilage
Silage, sī′laj, n. the term applied to fodder which has been preserved by ensilage in a silo.
English · e-38700-1786 · brief source recordSile
Sile, sīl, v.t. (prov.) to strain.—n. a sieve, a strainer or colander. [Low Ger. silen; Ger. sielen, to filter.]
English · e-38700-1787 · brief source recordSilence
Silence, sī′lens, n. state of being silent: absence of sound or speech: muteness: cessation of agitation: calmness: oblivion.—v.t. to cause to be silent: to put to rest: to stop.—interj. be silent!—adj. Sī′lent, free fro
English · e-38700-1788Silene
Silene, sī-lē′nē, n. a genus of plants of the natural order Caryophyllaceæ—the Bladder Campion, whose young shoots eat like asparagus—the Catchfly, a general name for many British species.
English · e-38700-1789Silenus
Silenus, sī-lē′nus, n. the foster-father of Bacchus, a little pot-bellied old man, bald-headed and snub-nosed, generally astride of an ass, drunk, and attended by a troop of satyrs.
English · e-38700-1790Silesia
Silesia, si-lē′shi-a, n. a thin brown holland for window-blinds, &c.: a thin twilled cotton.—adj. Silē′sian, pertaining to Silesia.
English · e-38700-1791Silex
Silex, sī′leks, n. silica, as found in nature, occurring as flint, quartz, rock-crystal, &c. [L. silex, silicis, flint.]
English · e-38700-1792Silhouette
Silhouette, sil-ōō-et′, n. a shadow-outline of the human figure or profile filled in of a dark colour.—v.t. to represent in silhouette: to bring out a shaded profile or outline view of. [Étienne de Silhouette (1709-67),
English · e-38700-1793Silica
Silica, sil′i-ka, n. silicon dioxide, or silicic anhydride, a white or colourless substance, the most abundant solid constituent of our globe, existing both in the crystalline and in the amorphous form, the best examples
English · e-38700-1794Silicle
Silicle, sil′i-kl, n. (bot.) a seed-vessel shorter and containing fewer seeds than a silique—also Sil′icule, Silic′ula.—adj. Silic′ulōse (bot.), having, pertaining to, or resembling silicles: husky.—ns. (bot.) Silique (s
English · e-38700-1795Silk
Silk, silk, n. the delicate, soft thread produced by the larvæ of certain bombycid moths which feed on the leaves of the mulberry, &c.: thread or cloth woven from it: anything resembling silk, the styles of maize, the si
English · e-38700-1796Sill
Sill, sil, n. the timber or stone at the foot of a door or window: the lowest piece in a window-frame: (fort.) the inner edge of the bottom of an embrasure: the floor of a mine-passage, also a miner's term for bed or str
English · e-38700-1797Silladar
Silladar, sil′a-där, n. a member of a troop of irregular cavalry. [Hind.]
English · e-38700-1798 · brief source recordSillago
Sillago, sil′a-gō, n. a genus of acanthopterygian fishes.
English · e-38700-1799 · brief source recordSillery
Sillery, sil′e-ri, n. a celebrated still white wine produced near Rheims—one of the most esteemed champagnes. [Sillery in Marne.]
English · e-38700-1800Sillibub
Sillibub, sil′i-bub, n. a dish made of wine or cider mixed with milk into a curd, flavoured, whipped into a froth, or made solid by gelatine and water, and boiling.—Also Sill′abub.
English · e-38700-1801Sillograph
Sillograph, sil′ō-graf, n. a satirist. [From the Silloi of Timon of Phlius, c. 280 B.C.]
English · e-38700-1802 · brief source recordSillometer
Sillometer, si-lom′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the speed of a ship without a log-line. [Fr. siller, to make way, Gr. metron, a measure.]
English · e-38700-1803Sillon
Sillon, sil′on, n. (fort.) a. work raised in the middle of a very wide ditch, an envelope. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-1804 · brief source recordSillsallat
Sillsallat, sil′sal-at, n. a salad of pickled herring, with morsels of meat, eggs, onion, and beet. [Sw.]
English · e-38700-1805 · brief source recordSilly
Silly, sil′i, adj. simple: harmless: foolish: witless: imprudent: absurd: stupid.—n. a silly person.—adv. Sill′ily.—ns. Sill′iness; Sill′y-how, a caul. [Orig. 'blessed,' and so 'innocent,' 'simple,' A.S. sǽlig, gesælig,
English · e-38700-1806Silo
Silo, sī′lō, n. a pit for packing and storing green crops for fodder in the state known as ensilage.—v.t. to preserve in a silo. [Sp.,—L. sirus—Gr. siros, a pit.]
English · e-38700-1807Silpha
Silpha, sil′fa, n. a genus of clavicorn beetles, the carrion-beetles. [Gr. silphē, a beetle.]
English · e-38700-1808 · brief source recordSilphium
Silphium, sil′fi-um, n. a genus of American composites with resinous juice—prairie-dock, cup-plant, rosin-weed: an umbelliferous plant whose juice the ancient Greeks used—the Latin laserpitium.
English · e-38700-1809Silphology
Silphology, sil-fol′ō-ji, n. the science of larval forms. [Gr. silphē, a beetle, logia—legein, to say.]
English · e-38700-1810 · brief source recordSilt
Silt, silt, n. that which is left by straining: sediment: the sand, &c., left by water.—v.t. to fill with sediment (with up).—v.i. to percolate through pores: to become filled up.—adj. Silt′y, full of, or resembling, sil
English · e-38700-1811Silurian
Silurian, si-lū′ri-an, adj. belonging to Siluria, the country of the Silures, the ancient inhabitants of the south-eastern part of South Wales: applied by Murchison in 1835 to a series of rocks well developed in the coun
English · e-38700-1812Silvan
Silvan, sil′van, adj. pertaining to woods, woody: inhabiting woods.—ns. Sil′va, Syl′va, the forest-trees collectively of any region. [Fr.,—L. silva.]
English · e-38700-1813Silver
Silver, sil′vėr, n. a soft white metal, capable of a high polish: money made of silver: anything having the appearance of silver.—adj. made of silver: resembling silver: white: bright: precious: gentle: having a soft and
English · e-38700-1814Simar
Simar, Simarre, si-mär′, n. a woman's robe: a scarf. [Fr. simarre—O. Fr. chamarre—Sp. chamarra, a sheep-skin coat, prob. Basque.]
English · e-38700-1815Simarubaceæ
Simarubaceæ, sim-a-rōō-bā′sē-ē, n.pl. a natural order of tropical trees and shrubs—bitter, used in dysentery, &c.—including quassia, bitterwood, and ailanto.—adj. Simarubā′ceous.
English · e-38700-1816Simbil
Simbil, sim′bil, n. a shortish-legged African stork.
English · e-38700-1817 · brief source recordSimeonite
Simeonite, sim′ē-on-īt, n. a follower of the famous Cambridge evangelical preacher Charles Simeon (1759-1836), whose influence is perpetuated by the Simeon Trust, established for purchasing advowsons: a low-churchman—oft
English · e-38700-1818Simia
Simia, sim′i-a, n. an anthropoid ape: a monkey generally: the typical genus of Simiidæ, containing the orang-utans—the Simiidæ includes the anthropoid apes; Simiinæ is the higher of the two sub-families of Simiidæ, compr
English · e-38700-1819Similar
Similar, sim′i-lar, adj. like: resembling: uniform: (geom.) exactly corresponding in shape, without regard to size.—n. Similar′ity.—adv. Sim′ilarly.—n. Simil′itude, the state of being similar or like: resemblance: compar
English · e-38700-1820Simile
Simile, sim′i-le, n. something similar: similitude: (rhet.) a comparison to illustrate anything.—n.pl. Simil′ia, things alike.—v.t. Sim′ilise, to liken, compare.—v.i. to use similitudes.—adv. Simil′liter, in like manner.
English · e-38700-1821Similor
Similor, sim′i-lōr, n. a yellow alloy used for cheap jewellery. [Fr.,—L. similis, like, aurum, gold.]
English · e-38700-1822 · brief source recordSimitar
Simitar. Same as Scimitar (q.v.).
English · e-38700-1823 · brief source recordSimkin
Simkin, sim′kin, n. the usual Anglo-Indian word for champagne.—Also Simp′kin.
English · e-38700-1824 · brief source recordSimmer
Simmer, sim′ėr, v.i. to boil with a gentle, hissing sound: to be on the point of boiling out, as into anger.—n. a gentle heating. [Imit.; cf. Sw. dial. summa, to hum, Ger. summen.]
English · e-38700-1825Simnel
Simnel, sim′nel, n. a sweet cake of fine flour for Christmas, Easter, or Mothering Sunday.—Also Sim′lin. [O. Fr. simenel—L. simila, fine flour.]
English · e-38700-1826Simon-pure
Simon-pure, sī′mon-pūr, adj. authentic, genuine. [From Simon Pure, a character in Mrs Centlivre's comedy, A Bold Stroke for a Wife, who is counterfeited by an impostor.]
English · e-38700-1827Simony
Simony, sim′on-i, n. the crime of buying or selling presentation to a benefice, so named from Simon Magus, who thought to purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit with money (Acts, viii.).—n. Simō′niac, one guilty of simony.
English · e-38700-1828Simoom
Simoom, si-mōōm′, n. a hot suffocating wind which blows in northern Africa and Arabia and the adjacent countries from the interior deserts.—Also Simoon′. [Ar. samûm—samm, to poison.]
English · e-38700-1829Simorhynchus
Simorhynchus, sim-ō-ring′kus, n. a genus of small North Pacific birds, the snub-nosed auklets. [Gr. simos, flat-nosed, hryngchos, snout.]
English · e-38700-1830Simous
Simous, sī′mus, adj. flat or snub nosed: concave.—n. Simos′ity.
English · e-38700-1831 · brief source recordSimpai
Simpai, sim′pī, n. the black-crested monkey of Sumatra.
English · e-38700-1832 · brief source recordSimper
Simper, sim′pėr, v.i. to smile in a silly, affected manner.—n. a silly or affected smile.—n. Sim′perer, one who simpers.—adj. Simp′ering.—adv. Sim′peringly, in a simpering manner: with a foolish smile. [Prob. Scand.; Nor
English · e-38700-1833Simple
Simple, sim′pl, adj. single: undivided: resisting decomposition: elementary, undeveloped: plain, single, entire: homogeneous: open: unaffected: undesigning: true: clear: straightforward: artless: guileless: unsuspecting:
English · e-38700-1834Simson
Simson, Simpson, sim′son, n. (prov.) groundsel. [Earlier sencion—O. Fr. senecion—L. senecio.]
English · e-38700-1835 · brief source recordSimulacrum
Simulacrum, sim-ū-lā′krum, n. an image, unreal phantom: a formal sign:—pl. Simulā′cra. [L.]
English · e-38700-1836 · brief source recordSimulate
Simulate, sim′ū-lāt, v.t. to imitate: to counterfeit: to pretend: to assume the appearance of without the reality.—adjs. Sim′ulant, simulating: replacing, or having the form or appearance of, esp. in biology; Sim′ular, c
English · e-38700-1837Simultaneous
Simultaneous, sim-ul-tā′nē-us, adj. acting, existing, or happening at the same time: (math.) satisfied by the same values of the variables or unknown quantities—of a set of equations.—ns. Simultanē′ity, Simultā′neousness
English · e-38700-1838Simurg
Simurg, si-mōōrg′, n. a monstrous bird of Persian fable.—Also Simorg′, Simurgh′.
English · e-38700-1839 · brief source recordSin
Sin, sin, adv. (Spens.) since. [Since.]
English · e-38700-1840 · brief source recordSin
Sin, sin, n. wilful violation of law: neglect of duty: neglect of the laws of morality and religion, any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God: wickedness, iniquity.—v.i. to commit sin: to violate
English · e-38700-1841Sinaitic
Sinaitic, sī-na-it′ik, adj. pertaining to, made, or given at Mount Sinai.—Also Sinā′ic.
English · e-38700-1842 · brief source recordSinapis
Sinapis, si-nā′pis, n. the officinal name of mustard.—n. Sin′apism, a mustard-plaster. [L.,—Gr. sinapi.]
English · e-38700-1843 · brief source recordSince
Since, sins, adv. from the time that: past: ago.—prep. after: from the time of.—conj. seeing that: because: considering. [M. E. sins, sithens—A.S. síth-thám, lit. 'after that,' from síth, late (Ger. seit), and thám, dat.
English · e-38700-1844Sincere
Sincere, sin-sēr′, adj. clean: pure: (B.) unadulterated: being in reality what it is in appearance: unfeigned: frank: honest: true, virtuous.—adv. Sincēre′ly.—ns. Sincēre′ness, Sincer′ity, state or quality of being since
English · e-38700-1845Sinciput
Sinciput, sin′si-put, n. the forepart of the head from the forehead to the vertex.—adj. Sincip′ital. [L., semi-; half, caput, the head.]
English · e-38700-1846Sind
Sind, sīnd, v.t. (Scot.) to rinse.—Also Synd.
English · e-38700-1847 · brief source recordSindon
Sindon, sin′don, n. (Bacon) a wrapper. [L.,—Gr. sindōn, fine Indian cloth, muslin, a garment, prob. from India, or Sinde in India.]
English · e-38700-1848Sine
Sine, sīn, n. a straight line drawn from one extremity of an arc perpendicular to the diameter that passes through the other extremity. [L. sinus, a curve.]
English · e-38700-1849Sine
Sine, Syne, sīn, adv. (Scot.) after that: ago.—conj. since.
English · e-38700-1850 · brief source recordSine
Sine, sī′ne, prep. without, as in Sine die, without day, of an adjournment; Sine quâ non, an indispensable condition, &c. [L.]
English · e-38700-1851Sinecure
Sinecure, sī′nē-kūr (or sin′-), n. an ecclesiastical benefice without the cure or care of souls: an office with salary but without work.—adj. pertaining to such an office.—ns. Sī′necurism, the state of having a sinecure;
English · e-38700-1852Sinew
Sinew, sin′ū, n. that which joins a muscle to a bone, a tendon: muscle, nerve: that which supplies vigour.—v.t. to bind as by sinews: to strengthen.—adj. Sin′ewed, furnished with sinews: (Shak.) strong, vigorous.—n. Sin′
English · e-38700-1853Sinfonia
Sinfonia, sin-fō-nē′a, n. symphony. [It.]
English · e-38700-1854 · brief source recordSing
Sing, sing, v.i. to utter melodious sounds in musical succession: to make a small, shrill sound: to relate in verse: to squeal: to ring: to be capable of being sung.—v.t. to utter musically: to chant: to celebrate: to at
English · e-38700-1855Singe
Singe, sinj, v.t. to burn on the surface: to scorch:—pr.p. singe′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. singed.—n. a burning of the surface: a slight burn.—Singed cat, a person who is better than he looks. [A.S. besengan, the causative of
English · e-38700-1856Singhalese
Singhalese. Same as Cingalese.
English · e-38700-1857 · brief source recordSingle
Single, sing′gl, adj. consisting of one only: individual, unique: separate, private: alone: unmarried: not combined with others: unmixed: having one only on each side: straightforward: sincere: simple, normal: pure.—v.t.
English · e-38700-1858Singsong
Singsong, sing′song, n. bad singing: drawling: a convivial meeting where every one must sing.—adj. monotonously rhythmical, drawling.—v.t. and v.i. to make songs: to chant monotonously.
English · e-38700-1859Singspiel
Singspiel, sing′spēl, n. a semi-dramatic representation in which a series of incidents are set forth in alternate dialogue and song, now a kind of opera in which the music is subordinated to the words. [Ger., singen, to
English · e-38700-1860Singular
Singular, sing′gū-lar, adj. alone: (gram.) denoting one person or thing: single: not complex or compound: standing alone, rare, unusual, uncommon: of more than common value or importance: unique, extraordinary, strange,
English · e-38700-1861Singult
Singult, sin′gult, n. a sigh.—adjs. Singul′tient, Singul′tous, affected with hiccup.—n. Singul′tus, a hiccup. [L. singultus, a sob.]
English · e-38700-1862Sinhalese
Sinhalese, sin′ha-lēz, n. and adj. the same as Cingalese and Singhalese.
English · e-38700-1863 · brief source recordSinic
Sinic, sin′ik, adj. Chinese.—adj. Sin′ian, a widely spread series of rocks in China, containing many trilobites and brachiopods.—ns. Sin′icism, Chinese manners and customs; Sin′ism, customs of China generally, esp. its a
English · e-38700-1864Sinical
Sinical, sin′ik-al, adj. pertaining to, employing, or founded upon sines.
English · e-38700-1865 · brief source recordSinister
Sinister, sin′is-tėr, adj. left: on the left hand: evil: unfair: dishonest: unlucky: inauspicious, malign.—adj. Sin′ister-hand′ed, left-handed.—advs. Sin′isterly; Sinis′tra (mus.), with the left hand; Sin′istrad, towards
English · e-38700-1866Sinistrorse
Sinistrorse, sin′is-trors, adj. rising from left to right, as a spiral line.—Also Sinistrors′al. [L. sinistrorsus, sinistroversus, towards the left side—sinister, left, vertĕre, versum, to turn.]
English · e-38700-1867Sink
Sink, singk, v.i. to fall to the bottom: to fall down: to descend lower: to fall gradually: to fall below the surface: to enter deeply: to be impressed: to be overwhelmed: to fail in strength.—v.t. to cause to sink: to p
English · e-38700-1868Sink-a-pace
Sink-a-pace, singk′-a-pās, n. (Shak.)=Cinquepace.
English · e-38700-1869 · brief source recordSinologue
Sinologue, sin′ō-log, n. one versed in Chinese.—adj. Sinolog′ical (-loj′-).—ns. Sinol′ogist; Sinol′ogy.
English · e-38700-1870 · brief source recordSinople
Sinople, sin′ō-pl, n. a ferruginous clay yielding the fine red pigment Sinō′pia or Sinō′pis. [Gr. sinōpis, a red earth brought from Sinope.]
English · e-38700-1871Sinsyne
Sinsyne, sin-sīn′, adv. (Scot.) since, ago.
English · e-38700-1872 · brief source recordSinter
Sinter, sin′tėr, n. a name given to rocks precipitated in a crystalline form from mineral waters. [Ger.]
English · e-38700-1873 · brief source recordSinto
Sinto, Sintoism=Shinto, Shintoism.
English · e-38700-1874 · brief source recordSintoc
Sintoc, sin′tok, n. a Malayan tree with aromatic bark.—Also Sin′doc.
English · e-38700-1875 · brief source recordSinuate
Sinuate, -d, sin′ū-āt, -ed, adj. curved: (bot.) with a waved margin.—v.t. to bend in and out.—ns. Sinuā′tion; Sinuos′ity, quality of being sinuous: a bend or series of bends and turns.—adjs. Sin′uous, Sin′uōse, bending i
English · e-38700-1876Sinupalliate
Sinupalliate, sin-ū-pal′i-āt, adj. having a sinuous pallial margin on the shell along the line of attachment of the mantle.—Also Sinupall′ial. [L. sinus, a fold, pallium, a mantle.]
English · e-38700-1877Sinus
Sinus, sī′nus, n. a bending: a fold: an opening: a bay of the sea: a recess on the shore: (anat.) a cavity or hollow of bone or other tissue, one of the air-cavities contained in the interior of certain bones: a channel
English · e-38700-1878Sioux
Sioux, sōō, n. (pl. Sioux, sōō or sōōz) the principal tribe of the Dakota family of American Indians in South Dakota and Nebraska—also adj.—Also Siouan (sōō′an).
English · e-38700-1879Sip
Sip, sip, v.t. to sup or drink in small quantities: to draw into the mouth: to taste: to drink out of.—v.i. to drink in small quantities: to drink by the lips:—pr.p. sip′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. sipped.—n. the taking of a l
English · e-38700-1880Sipe
Sipe, sīp, v.i. (prov.) to soak through.—Also Seep. [A.S. sipian, to soak; Dut. zijpen, to drop.]
English · e-38700-1881 · brief source recordSiphilis
Siphilis. Same as Syphilis (q.v.).
English · e-38700-1882 · brief source recordSiphon
Siphon, sī′fun, n. a bent tube for drawing off liquids from one vessel into another.—v.t. to convey by means of a siphon.—n. Sī′phonage.—adjs. Sī′phonal, Sī′phonate, Sīphon′ic, pertaining to, or resembling, a siphon.—n.
English · e-38700-1883Sippet
Sippet, sip′et, n. a small sop: (pl.) morsels of bread served in broth, &c.—v.i. Sipp′le, to sup in sips.
English · e-38700-1884 · brief source recordSipylite
Sipylite, sip′i-līt, n. a niobite of erbium. [From Gr. Sipylos, one of the children of Niobe.]
English · e-38700-1885 · brief source recordSir
Sir, sėr, n. a word of respect used in addressing a man: a gentleman: the title of a knight or baronet, used along with the Christian name and surname, as 'Sir David Pole:' formerly a common title of address for the cler
English · e-38700-1886Sir-reverence
Sir-reverence, sėr-rev′e-rens, n. a corr. of save-reverence.
English · e-38700-1900 · brief source recordSircar
Sircar, sėr-kär′, n. a Hindu clerk.—Also Sirkar′, Circar′. [Hind. sarkār, a superintendent—sar, head, kār, Sans. kara, work.]
English · e-38700-1887Sirdar
Sirdar, sėr-där′, n. a chief or military officer. [Hind. sardār—sar, head, -dār, holding.]
English · e-38700-1888 · brief source recordSire
Sire, sīr, n. one in the place of a father, as a sovereign: an elder, a progenitor: the male parent of a beast, esp. of a horse: (pl.) ancestors (poetry).—v.t. to beget, used of animals. [Sir.]
English · e-38700-1889Siredon
Siredon, sī-rē′don, n. a larval salamander:—pl. Sirē′dones.
English · e-38700-1890 · brief source recordSiren
Siren, sī′ren, n. (Gr. myth.) one of certain sea-nymphs who sat on the shores of an island between Circe's isle and Scylla, near the south-western coast of Italy, and sang with bewitching sweetness songs that allured the
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